Around July last year, Windows 8 tablets of this caliber - or those that don similar technical specifications - sold in the United States for around $300 to $350 or roughly Php 13,300 to Php 15,600 with current conversion.

Fast forward to September 2014, thanks to Microsoft's landmark move to waive the licensing fee of Windows 8.1 on tablets with screens less than 9-inches last April and the Redmond Giant's reinforced partnership with local electronics players and OEMSs in China and India (among other factors), we get Cherry Mobile Alpha Play, which only sells for Php 7,999. Hopefully, it's just the first of many such slates -- not just from Cherry Mobile but also from other brands - both local and international.

Launched at CM's We're on Windows (W.O.W) event held at the Harbour Garden Tent of Sofitel Luxury Hotel Manila last September 9, 2014, Cherry Mobile Alpha Play presents a great opportunity for consumers who are conscious about their budget to finally own a tablet running Microsoft's touch-optimized Windows 8.1 operating system and to experience first-hand what's unique and special about this platform.

Looks-wise, the slate flaunts a very straight-forward, highly-structured, and heavily-cornered design identity that's made more interesting by the full metal back plate, which also gives the device an air of elegance and durability. Also - as you can see in these photos, despite having a rather large display, Cherry Mobile Alpha Play's footprint is not that big, making it convenient to hold even with just one hand.

In terms of technical specifications, the tablet features an 8-inch HD IPS screen, a 5 MegaPixel autofocus camera (TBC) with BSI sensor for improved low-light performance, a 2 MegaPixel front cam for selfies and video calls, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity support, and a 3,500 mAh battery pack, which - I think - could be bigger and hence, is the most obvious weak point of the release.

Under the hood, Cherry Mobile Alpha Play is powered by a very capable 1.33 GHz Quad Core Intel Z3735D and an Intel HD Graphic Gen 7 GPU, which are complemented by 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM that you can easily beef up using the device's microSD card slot.

And get this: CM Alpha Play has an HDMI port! I love this feature because, with it, I can easily connect the tablet to a larger display, which is perfect for my corporate presentations or for times when I just want to enjoy content - like Youtube videos - on a bigger screen.

You can get Cherry Mobile Alpha Play at all CM Concept Stores and Kiosks nationwide. Again, its official suggested retail price is only Php 7,999 and I believe it's available in two colors, Black and White -- both with anodized aluminum back plate.